Top 10 things that make golf trips special

Golf breaks come in all shapes and sizes. Much can depend on what you most desire from them. Whether that be the opportunity to play the game in reliably pleasant weather or potentially embarking on a course collecting excursion that more resembles a road trip than a traditional holiday, there is something for everyone. 

Perhaps you're someone who appreciates a quieter pace where you stay in a small, self-catered venue where autonomy is everything, or maybe you want to go all in and treat yourself to an all-inclusive experience that will be a feast in every sense of the word.

Whatever your preferences, there is certainly no shortage of choice out there as the market is saturated with incredible resorts and locations, both at home and abroad, that have something unforgettable to offer all golfers.

But what are the key attributes of the perfect golf trip? What qualities would blend together to provide memories to last a lifetime and to make your time away truly rewarding and special?

Having recently partnered with Golfbreaks to undertake a travel survey with more than 2,000 keen golfers, we wanted to discover just what characteristics travellers most value from a trip.

You may have first seen our article on what could ruin your time away, but now we wanted to present a more optimistic and positive picture, uncovering several leading themes that - when brought together - surely complete the dream golf break.

1. Great Company, Precious Time Spent With Family or Friends

Ultimately, no matter how enjoyable the destination you visited or exceptional the courses you played, it's the people you share it with that can make a golf trip memorable in the very best sense of the word.

Whether you're travelling alongside a partner, your family, or as part of a wider circle of friends and perhaps even a society, the moments you have together, the shared experiences, the laughter, the joy, that is an enduring factor that money simply cannot buy and is something to be cherished.

2. Playing Incredible Golf Courses

Naturally, if you're embarking on a golf trip, then you're likely to be someone who is passionate about this game, so the quality of the layouts you play cannot be underestimated. Superb conditioning is one thing that we all appreciate, playing off pristine fairways and putting on smooth greens is never something to take for granted, but true aficionados will also derive much satisfaction when they play courses that present exceptional architecture.

Taking on a genuinely world class design is a thrill, whether it be a legendary, iconic place or a modern masterpiece, with exciting holes, spectacular views, and a real sense of history and setting, all coming together to be a real highlight of your time away from home.

3. Enjoying Immaculate Weather

Not everyone is a fair-weather golfer - some of us are happy to stick on the waterproofs and battle through the elements - but no one would rather play in bad conditions, especially when you're on a trip.

Even if you're staying in your own country, you would rather have a pleasant, sunny day, while a great amount of the appeal to heading abroad is to find those magical spots where the climate is warmly embracing, where you can feel the sun on your back and relish something a little different from what you might have become accustomed to back home.

Warm, but not too hot, there is nothing like perfect golfing weather and having that (or not) can make - or break - your trip.

4. Outstanding Accommodation & Hotels

It could be anything from a self-catered apartment to a luxury hotel room, but regardless of the type of accommodation you have chosen, the standard of what you receive will go a long way to determining the success of your golf break.

Comfortable, clean rooms, outstanding service in each applicable part of the venue, reaping the benefits of all the facilities you have expected, whether it be spas or gyms, all of these are essential to ensuring that the place you stayed in, not just where you played, meets (and perhaps even surpasses) expectations.

Locations that are near to the courses you're playing is another added bonus.

5. Good Food, Drink & Nightlife

Some of you could be packing in multiple rounds a day, but if you're someone who instead paces yourself and values greatly the other attractions of a venue, such as the restaurants and bars, then you're ideally searching for somewhere that offers delectable cuisine and atmospheric establishments.

These are the times when you reflect on the day spent playing golf, exchanging memories, stories and laughter, with those hours being so meaningful with friends or significant others. 

It might very well become one of the highlights of the entire trip.

6. Everything Running Smoothly

Travelling can be a hectic, messy experience, full of stress, but when everuthing is planned correctly and the operational side of things is undertaken smoothly, a relaxed, anxiety-free journey, both to the destination itself and moving between locations during your stay, is vital to crafting a tremendous golf break.

Everything from booking tee times, club hire, transfers, dinner reservations and anything else you wish would be enhanced should all the whole adventure progress seamlessly. That is the dream for anyone on a trip.

7. Tremendous Value For Money

Just as golf holidays can take all manner of different forms, they can also differ widely in terms of cost, but the overriding feeling for most of us is that we want to feel like the expense has been worth it, that the whole experience offered value for money.

Bargains are out there - and that's great - but even more expensive trips can still feel worthwhile if the quality of what you received justified the price.

If you can find that ideal balance, then you have been most fortunate indeed.

8. When It's a Special Occasion

Any golf trip is a notable event, but when it's aligned with a more special occasion, then the whole experience can feel elevated.

Perhaps you are celebrating a milestone birthday, a retirement, anniversary, or even a honeymoon, but using a golf break as the outlet to take those momentous dates to another level is undeniably an opportunity to grasp.

9. Having a Fantastic Variety of Courses to Play

The quality of the courses you play is clearly important, but so is the variety. If you are hoping to play multiple rounds across several days, encompassing a range of different layouts is a massive plus, especially if they are all of similarly high quality.

We reckon that the finest golf resorts are those with multiple courses on-site or, at very least, within close proximity, providing a complete golfing menu that should delight any keen golfer and everyone across an entire group of friends during their stay.

10. Welcoming Staff, Superb Hospitality

You could have the most luxurious hotel and the most supreme golf courses in front of you, but if the staff aren't great, it can somewhat taint your overall experience.

That is why so many golfers who responded to our survey highlighted the importance of welcoming, helpful, friendly staff, those who were consistently attentive and who did their very best to make sure that your time spent at the venue was everything - and more - that you hoped it would be.

Regardless of whether you're a seasoned golf traveller or someone tentatively plotting their first trip, when done right and with all of these integral qualities aligned, you could soon be about to embark on something that will be unforgettable, forging memories with others that you will recall for years to come.

Golf breaks can be special - and your next one could be the greatest yet.